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Are you in the market for a degree, and have more time than money? Would you like to know a very well kept secret that could be THE difference between getting your degree and just wishing you could? Then here it is: Western Governor's University, aka: WGU. And no, I don't work for them, nor am I being paid anything to recommend them. I am a current student at WGU hacking my way to the finish line!

I know, you're probably asking the same questions I did when I was scouring the net for an affordable online degree program. Here they are:

Who the heck is WGU?

What accreditation do they have?

What is the tuition?

Is the coursework 100% online?

Who will accept the credit hours for transfer?

How long will it take me to complete my degree?

What degrees do they offer?

Believe me, I asked them all and more.

I can't even remember how many different options I researched, but I do remember my shock when I found out what most online universities charge! After I decided I could not afford a degree from an online university, I researched all the local state and private universities in my home state. I was equally disappointed to find out that none of them had complete degree programs for online completion.

When I had almost given up, I happened to click on an advertisment for WGU on the W3C Schools website. I watched the video and then scoured their website for a week looking for a catch or a chink in their program. I asked many questions about their programs, including how accelerated they can be. I checked the review boards on the internet to see what type of feedback the students were giving. After being assured by WGU that they were regionally accredited, I also called the local universities in my home state to make sure they would accept coursework from WGU and when they answered affirmatively, I signed up. Not only did I sign up, but I applied for and received a scholarship!

You will need to do your own due diligence, but I can tell you this, if you have business experience, good study habits, are self motivated and diligent, and are comfortable with the computer you can sail through a large portion of your coursework. A semester online is six months. Your coursework is scheduled at 12 credit hours per semester, however, if you apply yourself you can cram more than 12 hours into each semester at no additional charge!

WGU charges by the semester, not by the classes or credit hours. For instance, I have six months to complete 12 credit hours which started on September 1st. I have already completed six credit hours and it's September 30th. My semester cost is the same whether I complete six or twenty four credits! I know you're anxious to know the cost so here it is: $2965.00 per semester (2009 cost)! (This does not include books.) This is less than most state universities, and you never even have to leave your home to attend your classes!

I am so blown away by this program I just want to share it with everyone who may be looking to complete a bachelor's or master's degree, and wants to do it online on their own schedule. It is as affordable as anything you are likely to find anywhere. It's not for everyone, as it does require an extremely high level of independence in study and personal diligence. The coursework is just as demanding as any university, but you get credit for your business experience and that's what lets you sail through some of the coursework.

If you are serious about completing your first degree or working on your second or master's degree in business, you owe it to yourself to check out WGU. You'll be glad you did!